Where's Wally?

It was 30 degrees and beautiful today so after
a lie-in Robin and I set off on another mini adventure to...Southend on Sea! We'd both never been and TomTom said it was an only an hour away.

90 minutes later we were still creeping, single
file into Southend following a 'Seafront, 498 spaces' parking sign. It must've been a mirage as the traffic went from slow to standstill when we got to the carpark.

Note for future: ditch the tourists and head straight to Southend town and the train station car park where you might even get a free ticket from a nice person leaving early.

Southend was a pleasant surprise (we admit, we expected the Essex coast to be like TOWIE with ice cream!). They've invested a lot in the sea front and there's loads for kids to do on the pier. The beach also looked long, clean and sandy. At least, I think it was sand under the thousands of people taking up every square inch! See picture above, I'm in there somewhere!

We had some fish, chips and mushy peas, spent far too much indulging my slot machine habit (specifically the 10p 'push' machines) and bought too much flavoured sugar from Ye Olde Sweet Shoppe.

We'd been invited by Tim and Jen next door for a BBQ at 6:30pm, so at 5ish got back in the car (loaded with anaseed balls, strawberry sherberts and gobstoppers) took the roof down and hit the motorway. It was a lovely drive and we made great time.

Tim and Jen put on a great spread, as usual! We really need to repay the favour but what the hell do you cook for people who really know their food?

Jen is 7 weeks pregant with their second so it was nice to talk baby preparations.

Speaking of Bump, he's just started kicking again so it must be bedtime. Better not break his routine :)